Next matches - GMT +8

KOREA HOLD AUSTRALIA

Korea held Australia to a 3-3 draw in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup but really it was three points lost then one gained as Korea led till two seconds from the end.

The draw thus puts Korea out of the running for a place in the final while Australia will have to win against New Zealand on Saturday.

"We were not in the match at all in the first half and really should have done better. The draw has made things more difficult especially since we are playing New Zealand on Saturday," said Australian coach Ric Charlesworth.

"The umpiring was not up to mark and we were denied a few penalty corners and even a stroke. And the Korean style of playing is this match is not good for hockey as a whole as all they did was throw the ball with overhead and have lots of defenders.

"But we did not play up to expectations and now have made things difficult for ourselves. The heat was terrible today."

Korea were the early aggressors as they forced two penalty corners, in the 10th and 13th minutes.

But on both occasions, Australian custodian George Bazeley was in his element, as he denied both the direct and set piece shots created.

Just seconds before halftime, the Koreans were awarded a penalty corner and off the third attempt, Korea took the lead as the drag flick by Nam Hyun Woo sneaked into goal giving Bazeley no chance.

Australia were on level terms in the 41st minute when Joshua Miller deflected in a shot that caught Korean keeper Lee Myung Ho off guard.

However Korea regained the lead two minutes later when Australian player Nicholas Budgeon deflected the ball past his own keeper, thus becoming the first player to score an own goal in this tournament.

Lee Seung II then scored Korea's third goal in the 55th minute via a penalty corner rebound and the Aussies were stunned.

And Australia reduced the deficit in the 58th minute as Miller got onto the end of a defence splitting pass by Matt Ghodes.

Australia were awarded their first penalty corner in the 65th minute but could not convert.

As the seconds ticked away, Australia equalised two seconds before the hooter as Timothy Deavin, who will play for Malaysian Hockey League club KLHC, dived in to send a reverse stick hit into goal to salvage a point.